Karlsruhe/Berlin EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg AG and Iberdrola have concluded a contract under which EnBW will provide services for the construction of the Wikinger offshore wind farm in the German Baltic Sea.

The contract runs for two years and covers services dealing with the coordination of shipping traffic, helath and safety and environmental protection at the construction site. In addition, the EnBW Offshore Team will share their know-how and expertise acquired during construction of its offshore wind farms Baltic 1 and 2.

“The conclusion of this contract represents a new example of cooperation in the offshore wind industry that will benefit both companies. Iberdrola can draw on the expertise of a proven team and benefit from the comprehensive experience acquired by EnBW during construction of the first two offshore wind farms off the German Baltic coast. For the EnBW team it’s a great opportunnity to gain additional expertise over the next two years working on a project that involves different technical components and suppliers,” said Nikolaus Elze, Head of Technology in the Generation and Operation business unit at EnBW.

Jürgen Blume, country manager for Iberdrola in Germany said: “As the installation of Wikinger project draws nearer, this contract will ensure that the best practices in terms of quality control, health and safety and respect for the environment are implemented throughout the entire construction phase while securing completion and grid connection by 2017.In March, the first foundation piles will be rammed into the seabed and preparations for the cable installation will commence. This agreement showcases the strong partnership between offshore wind developers in the Baltic Sea.”

Following construction of the two EnBW offshore wind farms Baltic 1 and Baltic 2, Wikinger will be the third wind farm in the German Baltic sea comprising 70 wind turbines with a total output of 350 megawatts.

With an investment of almost €1.4 billion, Wikinger will have a significant economic impact through the entire supply chain and will help create new jobs. Iberdrola is maximizing the benefits created by its Wikinger project by working with local suppliers where possible.

Once in operation, the offshore wind farm will produce electricity equivalent to the consumption of more than 350,000 German households, avoiding the emission of almost 600,000 tons of CO2/year.

As with EnBW Baltic 2, the installation and logistical base will be located in Sassnitz-Mukran on the island of Rügen. The system components will be transported to the construction site from the Port of Sassnitz.